Keep Cups Beeswax wraps Reusable bags Produce bags Reusable straws - choose from bamboo, metal or silicone Bamboo toothbrushes Zero Waste laundry alternatives Uniting Earth's Zero Waste Christmas Gift Guide Inspired by the 'War on Waste'? Here are some ideas to help you save the planet as well as giving great gifts this Christmas: Donate to charity! What do you give the person who has everything? A better world of course! Everyone likes to know they are making a difference. Make a donation on their behalf to a charity you know they care about. It's getting easier and easier these days, with lots of options to help the person you are gifting get excited about the donation! Eg. Eg. Uniting World's 'Everything in Common' Catalogue offers a great range of gift donations for you to make! Give magic beans, a chicken, health or schooling! https://everythingincommon.com.au/ Zero Waste Tools Help your friends and family achieve their waste reduction goals by gifting them one of these super useful reusable items:
Easy DIY Zero Waste and Eco Products Have you ever tried making your own lip gloss, body scrub or bath salts? It's super easy and they make great presents! Try starting somewhere like https://www.goingzerowaste.com/ for tips and recipies! Gifts in a Jar Buy Recycled or SecondHand Making cosmetics sound too complicated? How about simply putting all the dry ingredients for something delicious in a jar and gifting it? Done carefully, these jars can look amazing, and you are saving all the packaging and plastic that the person could otherwise be buying if they bought a box mix from the supermarket etc. Recycling isn't the end of the story - we Or if you are really clever, maybe also need people to buy recycled items make your own pickles, jams, to keep the cycle going. So why not buy sauerkraut, kimchi, preserved lemons something recycled? And/Or hit up or sauce to gift to friends and family. your local Op Shop for some bargains?
Give an Experience Most of us don't need more stuff, but new experiences are always exciting. There are a range of companies to help, or think outside the box. Why not buy a ticket to an eco-event? Help kids to experience nature with the gift of a birdbath or bird feeder. Just make sure they know that it needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent disease and they should provide food that is as close to the natural diet of the local birds as possible (junk food isn't good for anyone).
Make or Bake If you have the skills, why not make or bake something wonderful for family and friends? Think creatively! It doesn't have to be cookies. Maybe you could make a worm farm, bird feeder or bee hotel as a gift! Give an e-book or audiobook Books are always a favourite gift - but this way, no trees are cut down! Grow your Own People are increasingly realising the wonder and benefits of growing their own food at home. Why not gift them with some plants, herbs, gardening gear or even a mushroom growing set?
Rescue a Fur-Ever Friend Of course you should NEVER give someone a pet without consulting them first and making sure they definately have the time, equipment and commitment to look after it for life. But somehow, around Christmas, many people do. And these poor animals end up filling shelters at the RSPCA - placing a huge stress on the charity. So if you have room for a new family member these holidays, why not rescue someone wonderful from the RSPCA? (PS. They don't just have cats and dogs either, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds etc. are also often surrendered and need new fur-ever homes!) Wishing you and yours a very This resource was written by the Uniting Earth Ministry Consultants (UME) for the Uniting Church Synod of NSW/ACT and our friends.